False Confidence

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Azriel Huang

A wave of panic seized me, entirely ejecting me from the constant dance between consciousness and a land of dreams. My eyelids felt like lead, warring against my brain, who willed them to drift open. I drank in my surroundings like I had been deprived for eons, my eyes easily adjusting due to the dim lighting. The frantic feeling had slightly drained from my body, the familiar surroundings of my room was enough to make my eyes water and my chest ache. The curtains were drawn, minimal sunlight peaking through the bottom of the fabric, which meant it was likely evening.

My body ached as I sat up, as if scolding me to stop moving. I did not heed the warning, pulling back the large duvet cover from my body. I hissed out my anguish, my muscles whining from the movement. My eyes darted around, hoping for anything to relieve the unbearable dryness of my mouth. Finally, they landed on the glass pitcher stationed on my nightstand, along with a cup to pair. Forgoing the measly cup, I took the pitcher in hand and began gulping down the lukewarm liquid. I hadn't given myself a moment to breathe, draining the container for everything it had as it dribbled down the corner of my mouth and down my white shirt.

I cursed lowly, placing the pitcher back in its original location before wiping at my chest. Before I could simply pull off the garment entirely, the door squeaked open, spurring me to alertly center my gaze at the door. I fought a flinch, every fiber in my being, tense with caution. The circumstance was frighteningly similar to what I had endured the past three days, associating such an entrance to immense pain. I shuddered.

"Azriel?" Sasha rasped, his scent finally hitting my nose. It was heavily masculine yet still retained a hint of sweetness, like musk and jasmine. I instantly felt a sense of security that made my chest bloom with warmth, my posture going slack. A breath that I had been unknowingly holding in, whooshed out in shaky increments. I felt the back of my throat burn in sorrow, my fingers shaking with the rest of my sore body.

He crept forward, asking a silent question with glacier eyes. I nodded rapidly, barely being able to decipher his tall frame rushing to my bedside before he softly took me into his arms. The careful touch was what had pushed me over the edge, hot tears welling in my eyes before flooding my vision. Sobs soon racked my body, my face resting in the soft fabric of his black shirt. I clung to him with a pathetic desperation, tears with held from those long days, pouring out all at once.

After a few moments of mindless weeping, Sasha had tensed, cautiously retracting his arms from their hold around me. Confusion overcame me, a small grunt of objection escaping from my throat. My cluelessness soon ceased, another fragrance wafting into my nose.

Wren.

In my haze of pain and helplessness, I had internally begged for him. Needed him, and although his aroma had settled something in me, my gut curdled at his presence. With my somewhat cleared up mind, I distinctly remembered what had happened last time we had seen each other. Sasha reluctantly stood upward, the bed springing upward from the sudden lack of weight.

"He just woke up." Sasha reported firmly to Wren, who looked upon him with dangerous wrath. Turning towards the entrance, Sasha made a small step to exit. I latched onto his arm, pleading with my eyes up at him, he dragged his gaze back onto me. Despite Wren's furrowed brows and taut jaw, Sasha leaned down to reach eye level.

"Azriel..It's not me who you need right now. I don't like him but the way he acted when you were gone— he's earned my respect." Sasha elaborated, sounding the most gentle I had ever heard him. I hesitated for a few terse seconds before releasing my hold on him, tracking the way he quietly padded past Wren and out of my room.

I didn't make a move to acknowledge Wren, only running my hands through ruffled tresses. His gaze had instantly softened once Sasha had exited, his broad form ambulating to my bedside with ultimate caution. As if not to spook me.